Escape-valve for water-closet flushing-tanks.



PATBNTBD AUG. 11, 1908.

In ven ZD r 561:2?! es ffcz u C. PFAU. ESCAPE VALVE FOR WATER'GLOSET FLUSHING TANKS.

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APPLIUATION FILED SEPT.1Z, 1906.

Wiz??? esseri UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

CHARLES PFAU, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORl TO THE PFAU )MNUFAC'IL'RING COMPANY,

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO. i

i ESCAPE-VALVE FOR WATER-CLOSET FLUSHING-TANKS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, CHARLES PEAU, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Cincin-l nati, in the county of Hamilton and State of closed.

Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Escape-Valves for Water- Closet Flushing-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in escape valves for flushing tanks for water closets.

The construction of float valve now in general use consists of a flexible hollouT rubber -ball provided with a drain opening and with means for suspending it to an adjustable support and guide. In use these balls become elongated anddistorted in shape and are rendered less efficient in o eration than when of a substantially norma shape.

The object of my invention is to provide an escape valve which is adapted to retain its normal shape and not to become elongated and distorted.

My invention consists in providing a ilexible `escape valve of ordinary construction as above described with a' vertical brace consisting preferably of a solid yielding piece of rubber extending across the center and thereby connecting and holding in iixed relation to each other the opposite parts of the hollow rubber or flexible ball.

In the drawing which serves to lillustrate my invention: Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a flushing tank showing the usual construction of escape valve and by dottedlines the distorted shape it assumes whereby the overflow outlet is frequently Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a flexible hollow rubber ball partly broken away to showA my invention applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of Fig. 2.

Escape valves made according to my invention are constructed preferably substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing `in which a central vertical stay 1 connects the opposite upper and lower parts of the ball 2 and serves to brace and support the surface of the flexible ball valve in its normal shape. This stay 1 is preferably formed solid and made integral with the flexible rubber ball and is thus slightly yieldable, but may, if desired, be made of metal suitably secured in position and may be formed hollow. A spud or socket 3, preferi ably of metal, is embedded in the top part of 4Specification. of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 12, 1906.

tion, I do not wish to .be

Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Serial No. 334,236.

the ball 2 at the upper end of stay 1 and is provided with means, such as a thread, to engage an adjustable guide 4 whereby said escape valve is held in its proper position with relation to the valve seat as shown in Fig. 1. The usual drain opening 5 for the discharge of any water which may get into the ball 2 is provided.

In order to more clearly set forth the advantage derived by the use of1 my invention I have shown, in Fig.' 1, a flushing tank 7l having a flushing pipe 8 the upper end of which forms a valve seat which is provided with a flexible escape valve 9 of ordinary construction. An overflow pipe 10 communi- Cates with flushing pipe S by means of passage 11 below the escape valve 9 inorder to kee the tank substantially. full of water wit lout the danger of its overflowing if the inlet valve is kout of order. In practice, however, it is found that a flexible ball of ordinary construction after some use becomes distort-ed andassumes an elongated shape and position whereby the passage 11. becomes obstructed, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby causingv the tank to overflow. The stay in my flexible escape valve holdssaid valve in its normal and )roper shape, absolut-ely prevents the possibility of such danger and insures the perfect working of the escape valve in this respect at all times.

Vv'liile I have shown a )articular construclimited thereto, but. claim:

1. In an escape valve for water closet ilushing tanks, the combination of a hollow flexible ball valve having a vertical reinforcing stay extending centrally therein from top to bottom, with a valve seat consisting of the upper end of an open pipe, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In an escape valve for water closet flushing tanks, the combination of a hollow flexible ball valve having a vertical reinforcing stay extending cent-rally therein from top to bottom, a drain opening in the bottom of. said valve adjacent to said stay, with a valve seat consisting of the upper end of an open pipe, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In an escape valve for water closet flushing tanks, the combination of ya hollow flexible ball valve with a vertical stay formed integral therein and extending through the center, with a valve seat consisting of the upper end of an open pipe7 substantially as shown andv for the purposes specified.

4. ln an *escape Valve for Water closet lushing tanks, the combination of a hollow flexible ball Valve, a stay Within said. hollow iiexible ball Valve 'extending longitudinally in the direction of the action of said Valve, with a Valve seat consisting of the 'end oi an open pipe, substantially as shown and for the purposes specified.

5. in an escape Valve for Water closet esame flushing tanks, the combination (ii a bellow flexible ball valve, a yielding stay Within said hollow flexible ball Valve extending lonl5 CHARLES PFAU Witnesses ,JAMES N. RAMsEY,

GEO. A. HERRKLOTZ. 

